An international warning about the danger of striking chemical weapons sites in Syria

Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Fernando Arias, warned Thursday that striking chemical weapons sites in Syria risks contamination and destruction of valuable evidence.
He acknowledged that the organization has no information regarding whether there are any damaged sites.

Targeting military installations

“We are closely following reports of air strikes targeting military facilities in Syria,” Arias said.

He continued: “We do not yet know whether these strikes targeted sites linked to chemical weapons. Air strikes like these could pose a risk of contamination.”

Arias added: “Another real danger lies in the destruction of valuable evidence for the investigations of several independent international bodies related to the previous use of chemical weapons.”
He said in his speech: “In addition, we must take into account the risks of losing any chemical weapons or equipment, beyond any control.”

Fact-finding mission

In 2014, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established a “fact-finding mission” to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

This mission issued 21 reports on 74 supposed uses of chemical weapons, according to the organization.

Investigators concluded that chemical weapons had been used or were likely used 20 times.

Prosecuting the perpetrators of crimes

United Nations investigators have drawn up secret lists of 4,000 perpetrators of serious crimes in Syria, hoping with the fall of President Bashar al-Assad to ensure accountability at the highest levels in this country.
“It is very important that perpetrators of crimes at the highest levels are brought to justice,” said Linnea Arvidsson, who coordinates the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria.
During an interview with Agence France-Presse in Geneva, she stressed that “the focus must be on those who bear the primary responsibility for violations committed over many years, instead of focusing on the perpetrators of lower-level crimes.”
The new transitional authorities pledged to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes and punish those involved in torturing detainees.